Reversing rudder



A. Mcm 1,104.39@

mavrsnsnm mmmV Filcd Doc. 8, y1925 March 5, 1929.

2 Sheets-Sheet l y @no1/wwwa( m Mardi 5, 1929. A. McNAa REVERSING RUBBER Filed Dec. 8, 1925 2 Sheets$hoo 2 Patented Mar. 5, 1929.

UNITED STATES ALEXANDER MCNAB, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUiT.

REVERSING nonnen..

Application led December This invention relates to the controlofnavigable vessels and particularly to power driven vessels fitted with a reversing rudder known as the McNab-Kitchen rudder'.

`The object of the invention is to provide a simple and eiiicient control mechanism which may be readily adapted to or combined with any type of stern and either with outboard motors or inboard motors.

A further object of the invention consists in arranging the control mechanism in a minimum space While maintaining full strength of the parts so that the mechanism may be mounted in any convenient posit-ion.

A further object of the invention is to arrange the parts in a small and compact casing serving asa protective and grease retaining housing.

A still further object ofthe invention is to provide a reversing rudder control having means by which the setting of either or both the steering and rudder setting may be readily loclred in adjusted position and as readily released when another setting or free manoeuvring is desired.

A still further object of the invention is to constructand assemble the various parts constituting the control so as to be readily demountable for purposes of adjustment or renewal.

Various other features of the invention will hereinafter appear and be specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

Reference is now directed to the accompanying drawings in which a preferred e1nbodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example, but it will of course be understood that theV invent-ion is not limited in its scope to the forni illustrated but only as defined in the appended claims. Corresponding parts are indicated by the same reference numerals in the various figures of the drawings, in which Figure l illustrates an outboard motor oit' wellilinownmalre fitted with the McNab- Kitchen reversing rudder controlled by the mechanism forming the subject of the present invention and illustrating the adaption of the control to an outboard motor clamped to a. boat with a transom stern. Y

Figure 2 illustrates the control mechanism used with an inboard motor in a boat having an overhang stern;

Figure 3 illustrates the invention applied to a boat having an inboard motor and transom stern. i

s, 1925. seran No. 74,074.

Figure 7 is an enlarged inverted plan view on the line 7-7 of Fig. 5 looking in the direction of the arrows. j

`T he McNab-Kitchen rudder is Well known in marine engineering and is particularly widely tted to small craft plyin in narrow v` waters. It consists essentially o two semicircular plates pivoted together and embracing the propeller. The blades'are mounted on separate nested shafts and shaped to enable the rear edges when brought together to form a complete closure behind thepropeller, the range of setting of the rudder enabling the semi-circular blades to be set in any position from approximately parallel relation with each other through any intermediate position to a close fitting of the plates along their rear edges. In addition both plates may be swung together about their vertical axis for steering in the usual manner. The shape of the blades illustrated in the drawing has been found particularly advantageous since it provides a balanced rudder. The adjustable setting of the blades relatively to one another for manoeuvringr purposes enables any range of speed from full ahead to full astern to be obtained without varying` the revolutions of the propeller or its direction of rotation. In addition the turning of theboat on a verticalaxis passing approximately through the center of its length is obtainable" by putting the rudder hard to star-board or port when in fully closed position. While by adjusting the setting of the rudder platesso that the reaction of the water forced between the rudder plates is balanced by that of the Water deflected forwardly by the blades, the boat or vessel can be held stationary while the propeller is revolving at normal speed.

It will be realized that the manoeuvring power given by the McNab-Kitchen rudder is extremely valuable, particularly where inanceuvring in a restricted` space is necessary and for this reason large numbers of these rudders have been fitted to outboard motors. For this reason `the invent-ion has Y been illustrated' as applied to small boats but Cil it Will be understood that both the rudder and the control mechanism therefor herein dcscribed are applicable to craft of any size in tonnage, though in large vessels it is advisable to provide power means for operating such control mechanism.

The control mechanism illustrated is mounted at the head ot' nested rudder stems operating the rudder plates, one plate of the rudder being' mounted upon a tubular stem 1 through which the stem 2 of the other rudder plate passes. Mounted at the upper ends of the inner and outer stems are collars 3 and l provided with `rear teeth 5 Which are brought to the same horizontal level. In the particular construction illustrated, these gear teeth project outwardly at an angle ot approximately 15 deg. irom the collars, but this is of course mereiy a preferred torni since the teeth or serrations could be arrai'iged to extend vertically or horizon tallj-,fY ii preferred.

A tiller socket iuember 6 is provided with a yoke member 7 extending transversely of the rudder stems and carryingl a toothed seg ment 8 at each extremity meshiirg` with the `rear teeth 5 on the rudder stem collars. This tiller 'socket member G is capable of to and tro movement in a vertical plane as Well as the usual movement in a horizontal plane for ordinary steering'. The parts just described are mounted in a small casing 9 providing a bearing` for the socket member 6 and tor the nested rudder stems. It very important that no appreciable torce should be applied to the rudder plates after they have come into Contact With each other as serious distortion ot the plates may be caused. rihe range oit riovement ot the parts Within the casing is limited in the illustrated construction, in one direction by a flange 10 on the yoke member T coming against the rudder stems and in the reverse direction by said flange 10 coming' against the inside of the casing', the range ot' movement beine` su'icieutito swing cach rudder plate through an angle o't apjiiroiimately l5" when the tiller is moved from extreme downward to extreme upward position. Movement of the tiller to right or lett ol course swings both stems and blades equally in the same direction t'or steering` in the usual. ma nner.

'.lhe construction o t the housing; or cas-ine t) is such as to enable it to be readily disiuouuted but to provide a grease retaining;V chamber when assembled. The casing comprises two halves held in positioirby only three bolts 11, 12, 13. Oi' these bolts 1l forms the pivot tor the socket and yoke member, in addition this bolt is capable of being readily tightened up to lock the socket and yoke member 6 in adjusted position through lever 20. The casing is held at itslovver end by bolts 12, 13, serving to clamp in position a phosphor bronze bearing sleeve 14 which extends below said casin r suiliciently to be embraced by a bracket. 15. This bracket 15 serves to conn ect and brace the rudder stems to the ver- ,tical propeller shaft of an outboard motor,

or to the stern, it an inboard motor is being used, the rudder being given a further point of support by the bottom pivot bearingl 1G carried by the propeller protecting` skeg 17 in the usual manner. The bracket 15 serving to hold the rudder in position on the boat or outboard motor also serves as a lock, for this purpose it is split and furnished with a quick threaded bolt 18 and thumb nut 19 enablingv the projecting portion of the bushing` 14tand thereby the casing 9 to be readily locked in any desired setting. It is found that the metal o1' the casing' possesses suf iieient springto enable the clan'iping of the tiller socket member to be etlocted Without pern'ianently distortingv the easing.` sl ackiug back of tho pivot boltimemlier enabling` the casing' to spring; back to normal position leaving the socket member completely free. The socket member pivot bolt is provided at its end with a quick 'feed thread taking into a nut Q() held from turning by itting between raised ribs 21 cast on the easing. Preferably hard liber Wusncrs 22 are arranged between the. casing` and socket member.

It is believed that the operation of the steeringF control Will be readily understood from the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the drawings.

The manijiulation ot the tille r serves to coutrol both the direction ahead or ostern, and the speed ot the boat, both these functions being' eiiiected either independently by an up and down or side to side movement oi the tillcr or simultaneously by moving the tiller both hori zontally and vertically.

The advantages ot this extremely light and simple mechanism will be appreciated by all those conversant with the use ot .small boats, particularly Where it is desired to handle` other gearing such as fishing tackle or Ieuns, the readily locking' means enabling the boat to be hield on a desired course and at any desired speed Without attention.

It Will be seen from the diilierent forms oli stern shown lit-ted With the rudder control that the `nears and gear casino; muy be ar ranged wherever convenient, this being; possible owing to the very compact a rrauggeiueut et the gears and consequent small eine it l he casing' S). lVhen the rudder stems a re brought through a deck so that the bracket 15 is not rmiuired.v any suitable torni oit bearing. enabling the clamping; ot the projertiiui sleeve 14 may be provided as will be understood. The Casing 9 may be mounted on the rudder stems so that the tiller socket projects either forwardly or rearwardly, the advantage ot this is that the tiller may, it desired be bent over an outboard motor arranged in the usual position. If desired stops to limit the side to Cil lou

lili

ilo

lBil

il l) lVhile a preferred eiubodiment of the in-` vention has been described various modifications thereof can of course be readily effected and it is not desired to restrict the invention otherwise than as defined in the appended claims.

Vilhut I claim is:

l. A reversing rudder attachment adapted to cooperate with the pow r equipment of a navigmble resi-cl, includingl u rudder having tivo sulistantially semi-circular pivoted plates adzfiiiited to be moved from approximute `parallel sm 'to each other into er tion conl'actiin; with each other along tht r trailing,r edge, nested stems connected to said rudder plates, split bearine means associated with the rudder mecha: m and locking means acting to id split bearing' means to hold said in u desired setting relatively to each other a nd in u desired angular setting; relatively to the longitudinal axis ot the vessel.

2. A reversing rudder attachment as claimed in claim l, having actuating mechanism for the nested stems arranged at the upper end thereof, said mecham. n including a member mounted in a split bearing and a seoond split befningl for said nested stems, and lockingJ means associated with each of said split hearings whereby said rudd r plutes may be locked against movement reA ely to each other andthe rudder s Whole muy be lock Ll against movement relatively to the longitudinal axis ot the vessel.

3. A reversing rudder attachment adapted to cooperate with the pover equipment of a navigable vessel comprisnmf a tiller socket member, a yoke member operated by the ac.- tuation olf said tilleI socketr` a riulder comprising tivo substantially iicircular pivoted plates adapted to be moved from approxiniute 'i i elisin to euch other into por tion contnctiup with euch other ulouu' their trailinn edera nested stems cimncctcil to said rudder blades, and collars mounted at the upper ends ot seidv stein `ear segments carried by id collars sind rear teeth on said yoke niember niesliiiug; with said iii t mentioned fear winner l inovenumt of ilu inn l'ifmmiilill'otl tbrouirli sail pivoted blades. A

il, rever ire" rudder atlachnu-fut adapted. lo iuoperatc with the power equipment ol a uw nible vessel a tillcr socket member, a volte member operated by the actuation ol said tillcr socket, a rudder comprising two substantially semi-circular pivoted plates adapted to be moved from apin'oximnte parallelism to each other into positirm contacting `with en ch other along;r their trailing edge, nested stems connected to said rudder blades, actuating means mounted at the. upper ends ot said nested stems and operated by said yoke means, and a casing housing the actuating parts said casing providing a pivotal bearing for the tiller socket member and a bearing for said nested stems.

A reversing' rudder attachment adapted to cooperate with the power equipment of a navigable vessel comprising;l a tilier socket member, a yoke member operated by the actuation of said tiller socket, a rudder comprising two substantially semi-circular pivoted plates adapted to be moved from approximate parallelism to each other into position contacting With each other along their trailing edge, nested stems Connected to said rudder blades, aetuatinl means mounted at the upper end of said nested stems and operated by said yoke means, und a easing housingthe actuating parts, the movement in one direction of seid yoke member being limited by a. pui-t thereof contacting with the casing and in the other direction with the rudder stems.

(l. ik reversing` rudder' attachment adapted to coopen'ate with the power equipment of a navigable vessel comprising a tiller socket member, u yoke member operated by the actuation oi said tiller socket, a rudder compris-` plates adapted to be moved from approxii mate parallelism to each other into position f iontacting With each other along their truiling edge, nested stems connected to said rudder blades, actuating means mounted at the upper ends of said nested stems and operated by said yoke means and a casing housingr the actuating parts and providingr a pivotal bearing; for the tiller socket member, the movement of said yoke member being limited by a part thereof contacting in one direction with the casing;` and in the other direction with the rudder stems the pivotal bearing for the tiller socket member comprising a bolt provided With an actuatingr lever at one end and projecting ut its other end beyond the said casing', the projecting end of the bolt being provided with a threaded portion taking into a threaded part carried by said casino'.

7. A reversingr rudder attachment adapted to cooperate with the power equipment of ay navigable vessel as claimed in claim 6, in which said threaded part comprises a nut held il'rozn rotation by projecting ribs east on the exterior ot the casing.

el. A reversirgr rudder attachment adapted lo cooperate with the power equipment of a navigable vessel cmnprising a tiller socket member, a yoke member operated by the actuation or' said tiller socket, a rudder comprisingr two suliistantially semi-circular pivoted plates adapted to be moved from approximate parallelism to each other into position contacting with each other along their trailing; edge`- nested stems connected to said rudder blades, actuating means mounted at the upper ends of said nested stems and operated by said yoke means, and a casing; containing the parts, the movement of said yoke member being limited by a part thereo'2 contacting` in one direction With the caressing;` sind in the other direction with the rudder actuating' members, said casing' comprising two halves held together at its upper end by a bolt serving as a pivotal connection for said socket member and at its lower end by two bolts serving` to clainn in position a sleeve bearing for said rudder stems, said casing; forming a container adapted to contain grease or other heavy lubricant.

E). A reversing rudder attachment as claimed in claim 8 in which the sleeve been ing` for said rudder stems, clamped in said housing, projects beyond said casing, a brace to hold said rudder mechanism in position to brace said rudder mechanism and formed as a split bearing, embracing the projecting portion of said bushing', and means for readily closingl said split bearing to lock said elongated bushingl in any desired setting.

ln testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

ALEXANDER MCNAB. 

